Manawatu Towns
Palmerston North Home to more than 70 major educational and research institutions, Linton Military Camp and the Institute of Rugby. Palmerston North offers visitors excellent shopping, dining, theatre and gardens. Conveniently located half way between
Taupo and
Wellington, it is New Zealand’s second most populace inland city. Blessed with a strong arts culture, Palmerston North is home to one of New Zealand’s most beautiful heritage theatres - the Regent on Broadway. Recognised as a centre of excellence for research, technology and education, Palmerston North has a proud history of nurturing the entrepreneurial and innovative. And the city relishes its excellent sport/recreation facilities ranging from the Institute of Rugby through to the many bush reserves and tracks that enhance Palmerston North City.
Highly respected
Manawatu artist John Bevan Ford has a strong international following. Besides having many works in the British Museum’s permanent collection, the Museum of Scotland, Berlin Museum, Germany’s Stuttgart Museum and Netherlands art museums, John was also the first New Zealander to be invited to lecture and show work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. See fine examples of John’s work at the Palmerston North City Library and at Te Manawa Science Centre, Art Gallery and Museum (by appointment).
FeildingTwelve times winner of “New Zealand’s most Beautiful Town” Award and Manawatu’s second largest town, Feilding is an attractive rural centre with a population of approximately 13,500 people. Proud of its Edwardian architecture, the Feilding community has renovated and restored the heart of the town which boasts great shopping and - free parking.
Feilding has a well-earned international reputation as a stock and breeding centre of excellence. Its saleyards (cattle, sheep and deer) are among the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Mondays and Fridays are the “big” days for stock sales. Feilding’s Manfeild Park is another icon. An internationally recognised autocourse and major agricultural events centre, it serves many other purposes and is a truly important Lower North Island meeting place.
SansonSituated at a pivotal crossroad where State Highways 1 and 3 meet, Sanson is a popular stop-off point for crafts/antiques enthusiasts. The small township also boasts an original New Zealand rural, rugby grandstand built around the time of World War I. The township’s pride and joy, Sanson residents successfully saved it from the demolition ball in 2002. In partnership with Manawatu District Council, the grandstand has since been restored to its former glory.
Every Sunday rain or shine, Manawatu residents head to Sanson to buy locally grown fresh farm produce. Other stalls offer arts & crafts; collectables; pickles & jams; clothes, books and bargain items. Part of the market’s charm is its variety – a mix of regular, ever-changing and seasonal stalls. Shopping over, people have the choice of several cafes to relax in.
AshurstA short drive from Palmerston North and the Manawatu Gorge, Ashhurst’s close proximity to the Ruahine Ranges makes it an ideal stepping-stone for outdoor enthusiasts visiting the hills and spectacular upper reaches of the Manawatu River. Also a haven for artists, Ashhurst has a strong arts and cultural community.
Pohangina ValleyThe 30km-long, Pohangina Valley has long been an important farming community with the township firmly established as a popular retirement and lifestyle area for busy people wanting to escape city life. The valley is also celebrated for its spectacular autumn colours, wide Manawatu hill country views, Totara Reserve and accessible bushwalks.
Clearly visible from the road, the 20km Pohangina Anticline runs alongside the Southern Ruahine Range, which half a million years ago may have begun life as one or more anticlines. Rising at a rate of at least one millimetre a year, the Pohangina Anticline is growing rapidly in geological terms. Rainwater running down the sides of the anticline has begun eroding small valleys draining away from the crest of the fold towards the Oroua Valley in the west and the Pohangina Valley in the east.
Himatangi BeachThe oldest known inhabitants of the Himatangi area are the Rangitane people believed to have settled in the Manawatu region around 500 years ago. The coastline known as Himatangi Beach, was a seasonal gathering place for Maori who camped there specifically to catch and eat fish and shellfish. Leaving the shells in piles known as middens they created a fascinating archeological record of what the area once looked like. Oven stones and middens have been found among the hundreds of middens known to exist behind the first two rows of sand dunes, where the beach-line sat in the 1800s. The oldest middens can be found near a series of lagoons about two miles inland, indicating where the beach-line was 500 years ago.
Himatangi is home to the largest dune field in the country - at their widest point, Manawatu’s 6000-year-old coastal sand dunes, reach 18km inland and they are widening still. The beach is slowly moving further westward due to sand being brought in by strong currents and westerly winds that characterise the coastline.
KimboltonOne of Manawatu’s most picturesque rural townships, Kimbolton is renowned for its porous, fertile soil. Originally called Birmingham, the name was changed in 1899 when mail was found to have ended up in the UK. The village’s miniature library was originally a two-bedroom cottage acquired in 1936 by the Reverend Mayo who lived there for the rest of his life. On Rev. Mayo’s death the cottage was gifted to a library committee. On a clear day visitors are treated to wonderful views of the South Island. Kimbolton is a popular day trip for Manawatu residents and visitors.
RangiwahiaRangiwahia is Manawatu’s northern most township. Meaning “cloud piercer” in Maori, it was first surveyed in 1885. The surveyors set their camp up at a site known as “Peep-O-Day” where today’s travellers can enjoy spectacular views towards
Mount Ruapehu. In 1892 it took coaches three hours to drive from Kimbolton to Rangiwahia, an area characterised by Virgin bush, glow worms and breathtaking clay cliffs. One of the township’s most famous residents was Amos Burr nicknamed “Hooky” after losing both his arms in an accident. Fitted with hooks, he lived and worked in Rangiwahia to the age of 85.
Located off Rangiwahia Road is the Dress Circle – a well-kept Manawatu secret. Secluded, peaceful and a perfect picnic spot, the river passes through a beautifully- sculptured natural waterway enhanced by a cascading waterfall.
Another highlight of this area is the Rangiwahia Track leading to Manawatu’s first and only skifield. Popular with snowboarders, it is best known as a great two-hour walk to a hut with “million dollar views”. A typical backcountry track, it requires a good level of fitness and preparation for changeable weather conditions.